Tell me about Wegovy: what it is, how it works, and who it's for

Step 1: understanding what semaglutide actually does in your body

Semaglutide belongs to a class called GLP-1 receptor agonists. GLP-1 is a hormone released naturally after eating; it signals to the brain that you've had enough, slows gastric emptying, and plays a role in insulin release. Wegovy mimics that signal continuously over the week between injections, which is why many people find their appetite settles and they feel full on less food. It isn't a stimulant and it doesn't burn fat directly, the weight loss comes from eating less because the hunger drive is genuinely reduced, not suppressed by willpower alone. One misconception worth letting go early: Wegovy isn't the same as Ozempic. Both contain semaglutide, but Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes, not weight management. The distinction between these two medicines matters for anyone trying to make sense of what they've read online. For a fuller look at the weight-loss evidence specifically, the data on Wegovy for weight loss sets out the trial results in detail.

Step 2: what the titration schedule looks like and why it exists

Treatment starts at 0.25mg per week. That dose isn't designed to produce weight loss, its job is to let the body adjust gradually, keeping nausea and other gastrointestinal side effects manageable. From there, the prescriber moves the dose up roughly every four weeks: 0.25mg to 0.5mg, then 1.0mg, 1.7mg, and finally 2.4mg as the standard maintenance level. Rushing that process tends to worsen side effects without improving results, which is why the pace of titration sits with your prescriber, not with you. Since January 2026 there is also a 7.2mg dose available, the MHRA approved a dedicated single-dose 7.2mg pen on 14 April 2026, designed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above who have already worked through the standard titration. Whether that higher dose is appropriate is a clinical conversation, not a default next step. The Wegovy treatment overview at nume gives more context on how we approach dose progression. Each pen contains four weekly doses and is injected subcutaneously (into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm) with the site rotated each week. Storage requires refrigeration; the exact window for keeping a pen at room temperature is in the Patient Information Leaflet, and that's the right place to check it.

Step 3: who the evidence and licensing say Wegovy is for

The UK licence covers adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes or obstructive sleep apnoea. Lower thresholds can apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK guidance, typically 2.5 kg/m² below the standard figures. The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, followed adults with obesity over 68 weeks and found an average body-weight reduction of around 15% at 2.4mg alongside lifestyle changes. Results varied between individuals, and the trial was conducted alongside structured diet and activity support, context that matters when reading that figure. Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding or when trying to conceive. It isn't licensed for anyone under 18. People with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or certain other conditions, will need a careful prescriber discussion before starting. BMI alone never settles the question of suitability; a prescriber looks at the whole picture. You can read more about the key facts about Wegovy on a dedicated page, or explore a broader overview of Wegovy in the UK context.

Step 4: NHS access, private routes, and what to think about cost

NICE recommends semaglutide for weight management under technology appraisal TA875, but with conditions that make NHS access narrower than many people expect: it's recommended for a maximum of two years, within a specialist weight management service offering multidisciplinary support, and with a BMI threshold of 35 or above (or 30 to 34.9 meeting specialist-referral criteria). Waiting lists for those services are commonly long. For people who don't meet the NHS criteria or don't want to wait, a private prescription from a regulated online pharmacy is the alternative, and the cost of private weight-loss treatment page explains what legitimate private pricing typically involves. Eli Lilly's list-price increase from September 2025 shifted the wider market; typical private prices for semaglutide-based treatment now range roughly £149 to £375 per month depending on dose and provider, and that figure is worth having when you're comparing options. What those headline prices sometimes don't include is the consultation, the prescription, delivery or clinical aftercare, worth checking before assuming like-for-like. If you'd like to understand how the private route through a GPhC-registered pharmacy works, the process of accessing Wegovy privately is covered in straightforward terms. Our clinical team's approach to assessment is outlined on our prescriber profile page. At the end of any research, the next step is a consultation, not a purchase. Check your eligibility and speak to our prescribers at the treatment page.